Dodgers soaked by Rockies in extra innings

Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Adrian Gonzalez sure made this interesting, but in the end, the Dodgers lost another extra-inning affair. That’s becoming a bad habit.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, down by three runs, Gonzalez blasted a two-run homer to right field off Colorado’s LaTroy Hawkins. That pulled the Dodgers within one run, but the Rockies hung on for a 5-4 extra-innings win Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Gonzalez was 0-for-4 before delivering that clutch hit. Scott Van Slyke then popped out to second, Carl Crawford flew out to left field and Juan Uribe flew out to right field to end the game.

Colorado scored three runs in the top of the 11th in a rainy game and held on for the win. The Dodgers (13-11) have lost four of their last five games and have now lost four of their five extra-inning games. They’re also just 5-8 at Dodger Stadium.

The rain started about 9 p.m. and it was never enough to suspend play.

“We’re still continuing to have trouble scoring runs,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “We’ve been in a number of games where our pitching giving up two runs through 10 innings tonight, we’ve got to... I’m confident that we’re going to put runs on the board. We’re just not doing it right now.”

Brandon Barnes doubled with one out for the Rockies in the 11th, and Charlie Blackmon singled to center to score him. Also in the inning, Carlos Gonzalez grounded into a fielder’s choice to score a run and a run-scoring single by Justin Morneau would prove to be the most important run needed.

Matt Kemp was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing a called third strike, too.

Dodgers starter Josh Beckett allowed two runs on four hits in eight innings, so he was pleased. ``I think this was a step in the right direction for me personally, just to show myself I can do some things I haven’t done in a while,” Beckett said.

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But another loss was something the Dodgers had done plenty in that while.

Yasiel Puig was responsible for the Dodgers’ first two runs against Colorado in the first of a three-game series.

He couldn’t come up with the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning as he grounded out to third with Andre Ethier in scoring position.

Puig hit a first-pitch solo home run to right field off Colorado starter Jordan Lyles in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. And in the third inning, he tied the game at 2 when his RBI-single to left field scored Dee Gordon from second.

Gordon had a highlight play himself when he put himself in scoring position with his legs via that infield double in the third inning. Colorado second baseman DJ Mahieu overran the ball, and Gordon, never hesitated and rounded first and slid into second for the double. Then Puig did his thing again to score Gordon.

Tulowitzki hit a solo home run to left in the second inning to tie the game off Josh Beckett, Corey Dickerson also homered in that inning. Those were the only two runs Beckett allowed through seven innings.

Much of the Dodgers’ attention Friday, however, was stationed in Rancho Cucamonga and not Los Angeles since reigning Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw made his first rehab start. He threw five innings, allowing one run on two hits. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti was there along with a throng of media.

Still, the Dodgers have much work to do at Dodger Stadium, especially after losing three of four games to Philadelphia at home, too.